Oxford's historic Holywell Music Room, the world's oldest purpose-built concert hall, is to be renovated.

A £2m appeal is being launched, to allow the 260-year-old venue to be extended underground doubling its size.

The facelift would see a foyer, bar, green room and seminar room created below ground.

Partitions on the ground floor are to be stripped away to create a spacious entrance hall while making a feature of the building's 18th century spiral staircase. The decision has been made to transform the building into a 21st century venue following concerns from promoters about the existing cramped and out-dated facilities.

The music room has played host to some of the world's greatest musicians and composers, including Haydn and Handel.

The plans have been drawn up by west Oxfordshire architect John Melvin. His wife Julia is the secretary of the appeal, to be launched later this month.